Does the Holiday Season Feel Like a Never-Ending Buffet of Temptation?
Everywhere we turn during the holidays, we’re surrounded by food…delicious, indulgent, and often high in fat, sugar, and salt. Supermarket shelves overflow with chocolates and candy. The office breakroom is packed with snacks galore and ooey-gooey, homemade baked goods. Holiday party tables are overflowing with delicacies. And let’s not forget the leftover Halloween candy you still can’t bear to toss in the trash.
From Halloween to New Year’s, it can feel like a constant battle to resist temptation. But, to avoid the dreaded holiday weight gain, you don’t have to resist all the temptation. You just need to be strategic in how you indulge. Read on to discover two tips that will enable you to enjoy yourself this holiday season without the usual weight gain:
1. Be Selective
When it comes to avoiding weight gain, you can eat anything, but you can’t eat everything. In most cases, weight gain boils down to consuming too many calories. This means you can enjoy those less healthy holiday treats and still maintain your weight—if you don’t overdo it.
Focus on savoring foods that are truly special to you. Skip the everyday snacks like chips and dip, or cheese and crackers. Instead, indulge in those once-a-year goodies, like your aunt’s famous pecan pie, Grandma’s peanut butter balls, or your dad’s homemade eggnog.
When you eat these treats, go all in! Forget the guilt and shame and really soak in the experience. Food is one of life’s pleasures and it’s meant to be enjoyed. Notice the smell, texture, and taste of every bite. Practice paying attention while you eat, slow down, and make it last. When we love something, we want to fully experience it. Don’t waste it by not paying attention. When I eat something really good, I like to amplify the experience by saying, “This is so delicious!” I might even add an expletive to really highlight how much I’m enjoying what I’m eating. Try it. You might find that it makes the food taste even better.
2. Have a Plan
As Henry Ford famously said, “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” When it comes to sticking to your goals, having a plan is essential.
Psychologists call this an “implementation intention.” It’s a strategy to turn your intentions into actions by connecting specific situations to specific behaviors. Think of it as a simple formula: "If X happens, then I will do Y."
Here are a few examples you might want to try:
If my mom offers me a piece of carrot cake that I don’t like, then I’ll say, “No thank you! Dinner was so delicious, I’m too full for dessert.”
If there’s a dessert buffet at the party, then I’ll take one bite of five different items and savor every single bite.
If I see an irresistible piece of fudge on the table in the breakroom, I’ll take one piece and savor it after I eat my lunch.”
By having a plan, you’ll feel more confident and in control—no matter what the holiday season throws your way.
The holidays don’t have to derail your health goals. With a little bit of paying attention and a solid plan, you can enjoy the season’s treats without guilt or regret.
What’s your go-to strategy for staying healthy during the holidays? Shoot me an email at OneStepNutritionCoach@gmail.com with your favorite tips. I’d love to hear from you!
